Ambitious Butchers Make the Cut

The Alto Young Butcher
and Competenz Butcher Apprentice of the Year is well
underway with the Lower North Island Regional held yesterday
in Palmerston North.

The Alto Young Butcher winner Alex
Harper of The Village Butcher in Frimley, Hastings and
Competenz Butcher Apprentice winner Amy Jones of New World
Taumarunui have successfully secured their place to
challenge some of the finest butchery talent in the country
at the Grand Final in September.

Alex and Amy’s
motivations are high with a study tour around Europe up for
grabs if they are successful in the next stage of the
competition.

Head Judge from Competenz, Matt Grimes, says
this year’s level of skill has surpassed previous
years.

“Butchery requires strength and precision and
this year’s entrants are very much bringing that to the
table,” says Grimes.

During the regional each entrant
completes a written exam, an interview and a practical
cutting test.

Winners from the five regionals will then go
onto contend in a full day of intense competition at the
Alto Young Butcher and Competenz Butcher Apprentice of the
Year Grand Final on Friday 12 September at the Viaduct
Events Centre in Auckland.

The sale and manufacture of wash-off products containing plastic microbeads will be banned in New Zealand earlier than previously expected, Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson announced today. More>>

Property Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive Ashley Church is applauding today’s decision, by Prime Minister Bill English, to take Debt-to-income ratios off the table as a tool available to the Reserve Bank. More>>

The Decision-making Committee, appointed by the Board of the Environmental Protection Authority to decide a marine consent application by Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd, has granted consent, subject to conditions, for the company to mine iron sands off the South Taranaki Bight. More>>